Closure for pneumatic system carrier

ABSTRACT

A closure construction and arrangement for an open end of a tubular material-conveying carrier for a pneumatic tube system, particularly adapted for conducting banking transactions. A hollow disclike end cap forms the closure and is pivotally mounted for lateral movement across an open end of a tubular carrier between fully closed and fully opened positions. The pivot pin is fixed to and projects from the end of the tubular carrier wall. A toggle spring is contained within the hollow end cap and has one end pivotally connected to the end cap diametrically opposite the end cap carrier pivot. The other end of the spring is formed with a pin projecting through a semicircular aperture formed in the end cap; and the spring pin is pivotally connected to the tubular carrier wall at a point circumferentially spaced from the end cap carrier pivot, so as to snap the cap to fully open or fully closed position when moving between such positions.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Frank J. Roelandt Dayton, Ohio [2]] Appl. No. 816,769 [22] Filed Apr. 16, 1969 [45] Patented Jan. 19,1971 [73] Assignee Diebold, Incorporated Canton, Ohio a corporation of Ohio [54] CLOSURE FOR PNEUMATIC SYSTEM CARRIER 7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 243/35, 243/39; 220/38 [51] Int. Cl 865g 51/06 [50] Field ofSearch 243/32, 35, 39; 220/38 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,910,033 5/1933 Mincousky 220/38 3,323,755 6/1967 Voitas 243735 Primary Examiner-Harvey C. Hornsby Atl0rneyFrease & Bishop ABSTRACT: A closure construction and arrangement for an open end of a tubular material-conveying carrier for a pneumatic tube system, particularly adapted for conducting banking transactions. A hollow disclike end cap forms the closure and is pivotally mounted for lateral movement across an open end of a tubular carrier between fully closed and fully opened positions, The pivot pin is fixed to and projects from the end of the tubular carrier wall. A toggle spring is contained within the hollow end cap and has one end pivotally connected to the end cap diametrically opposite the end cap carrier pivot. The other end of the spring is formed with a pin projecting through a semicircular aperture formed in the end cap; and the spring pin is pivotally connected to the tubular carrier wall at a point circumferentially spaced from the end cap carrier pivot, so as to snap the cap to fully open or fully closed position when moving between such positions.

SHEET 2 OF 2 PATENIEDJAMQBII I N VIL'N TOR. Frauds J. Roela/nalfi VWAM ATTORNEYS CLOSURE FOR PNEUMATIC SYSTEM CARRIER RELATED APPLICATIONS The invention involves improvements upon the structures shown in the copending applications of Charles E- Delamater, fier. No. 718,773, and of Spiros Leontas, Ser. No. 718,894, both filed Apr. 4, I968.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to a carrier for banking materials which moves through a pneumatic tube in performing banking services from a remote customer's station. The carrier body is hollow or tubular and has at least one open end to provide access to the interior of the carrier. The open end normally is covered by a movable closure which must be readily movable between opened and closed positions. The closure must fully open or fully close the open end of the carrier; and also must be held securely in either position in which it is located, so that the carrier contents are held securely when the closure is in closed position and so that the carrier may be quickly and conveniently loaded or unloaded when the closure is in open position. At the same time the closure and its mounting and control mechanism must be both simple and rugged to withstand the severe shock to which the parts are subjected during use in a pneumatic system. Finally, the carrier body preferably should be transparent for contents visibility.

2 Description of the Prior Art Many closure arrangements for pneumatic tube system carrier access openings have been used. However, their mounting and latch mechanisms have been complicated and subject to injury in use. The structures of the closures shown in said copending applications satisfy many of the requirements but no known prior structure provides a simple and rugged mechanism having combined characteristics satisfying all of the indicated requirements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Objectives of the invention include providing a pneumatic tube system carrier access opening closure construction for a transparent carrier which may be readily moved between opened and closed positions, which eliminates latches, which is effectively held in fully closed position when closed and in fully opened position when opened, which has control mechanism of an inherently bistable nature so as to urge the closure either to closed or opened position when momentarily in an intervening position, which reliably closes the carrier to insure positive containment of the carrier contents, which enables convenient loading and unloading of the carrier, and which is rugged in withstanding shock to which the carrier is subjected in use.

These objectives and advantages are obtained by the pneumatic tube system carrier access opening closure construction, the general nature of which may be stated as including a generally tubular transparent plastic material carrier body having two ends and open at least at one end; closure means for said open end including a hollow disclike end cap preferably having a metal disc member and a plastic cupshaped cap member secured to the metal disc and forming therewith a cavity; a pivot pin mounted to project from the tubular carrier wall at said open end and engaging the closure end cap for lateral movement of the cap across the open end of the carrier while restraining the cap from movement axially of the carrier; a preloaded spring element mounted within the cap cavity; the spring element having one end pivotally connected to the closure means at a point diametrically opposite the pivotal connection between the cap and carrier; and the other end of the spring element terminating in a spring pin projecting axially through an arcuate aperture formed in the metal disc portion of the cap and pivotally connected with the carrier tubular wall at a point spaced circumferentially from the pivotal connection between the cap and carrier body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of the invention-illustrative of the best mode in which applicant has contemplated applying the principles-is set forth in the following description and shown in the drawings and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a carrier provided with the improved closure construction;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the carrier shown in FIG. I with parts broken away;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken on the line 3-3, FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the closure in fully opened position; a

FIG. 5 is a section similar to FIG. 3 taken on the line 5-5, FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6, FIG. 4.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The pneumatic tube system carrier I has a carrier body generally indicated at 2 which is generally tubular in shape and preferably is formed of transparent plastic material. Body 2 may have either one or two open ends, two open ends 3 being illustrated. Each open end is covered or closed by a disclike end cap generally indicated at 4 which is hollow.

Each end cap 4 preferably is formed with a metal disc member 5 and with a plastic cup member 6 secured to the disc member 5 in any suitable manner and forming therewith a cavity 7. A pivot pin 8 is releasably mounted by retaining screw 9 in an enlarged wall portion 10 at the open end 3 of body wall 2, and pin 8 projects from wall I0 and preferably has a head 11 welded or soldered at 12 to disc member 5. Thus, end cap 4 is pivotally mounted on the end of carrier body 2 for lateral movement across the open end 3 between the closed position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and the open position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The.pin head 11 and retaining screw 9 restrain the end cap 4 from movement axially of the carrier 1. v

A preloaded spring element 13 is located within cavity 7 having an eye-hook 14 it an end of one leg 14a engaged over pin 15 projecting from disc member 5, and having a tensioning coil 16. Pin 15 is located on member 5 diametrically opposite the pivotal connection 8 between carrier body 2 and end cap 4. The other spring leg I7 extending from tensioning coil 16 terminates in a spring pin I8 which projects axially through an arcuate slot 19 formed in disc member 5 and extends into and is pivotally connected at 20 with the enlarged wall potion Ill: of body wall 2 (FIG. 6). The pivotal connection 20 is located at a point spaced approximately circumferentially from the pivotal connection 8 between the carrier body 2 and end cap 4. The center of pivot pin 8 is the center on which the arc arcuate slot 19 is formed.

The structural relationship between spring 13, end cap 4, carrier body 2, spring pin 18 and arcuate slot 19 is such that when the cap 4 is moved from closed position of FIG. 2 to open position of FIG. 4, spring pin 18 located at one end 19b; of slot 19 when cap 4 is in closed position, is passed through the slot 19 to the other end 191; of slot 19 when the cap 4 reaches open position of FIG. 4.

The spring 13 being preloaded and having its ends engaged togglelike with the cap 4 and body 2 imparts a torque to the cap 4 such that the cap 4 has only two stable positions, either fully opened or fully closed as shown. This inherently bistable nature of the closure mechanism insures that the end cap is positively closed, when closed, for the reliable movement of the carrier through a pneumatic tube. It also insures that when open, the closure is held in fully open position for convenient loading and unloading of the carrier contents.

The metal disc member 5 forming part of the end cap 4 provides strength to contain the force of impact of coin that may be contained in the carrier when the carrier is brought to a stop at a pneumatic tube terminal. Similarly, the plastic cup member 6 serves to house the spring 13 and to provide a grip for movement of the end cap 4 by a user. Also the plastic cup 6 functionally absorbs shock.

The carrier may be provided with usual accelerator bands of any desired shape or composition as typically used for pneumatic tube carriers.

The improved construction is very simple and provides an effective and sturdy closure construction which reliably closes pneumatic tube carriers to positively contain the contents thereof, and which is capable of withstanding the shock loading to which a carrier is subjected, and also which is simple and convenient to load, unload, and dispatch in a pneumatic tube; and thus the improved structure eliminates difficulties encountered with prior devices, achieves the stated objectives, and solves existing problems in the art.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding; but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is by way of example, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.

Having now described the features, discoveries and principles of the invention, the manner in which the improved carrier is constructed and used, the characteristics of thenew construction, and the advantageous, new and useful results obtained; the new and useful structures, devices, elements, arrangements, parts, and combinations, and mechanical equivalents obvious to those skilled in the art are set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Closure construction for a pneumatic tube carrier including a generally tubular carrier body wall having two ends at least one of which is open; disclike closure means for said open end including a disc member and a cup-shaped cap member secured to said disc member and forming therewith a cavity; pivot pin means mounted on the carrier body wall projecting therefrom parallel to the axis of the carrier body at said open end and connected to said closure means providing for lateral pivotal movement of said closure means across the open end between fully closed and fully opened positions; preloaded spring means mounted in said cavity having one end connected to said closure means diametrically opposite the pivot means and having another end formed with a spring pin extending parallel to the axis of the carrier body; said disc member being formed with a slot arcuate on a center coinciding with the axis of said pivot means; and said spring pin extending through said arcuate slot and being pivotally connected to the carrier body wall at a point spaced from said pivot means.

2. The construction defined in claim 1 in which the carrier body is formed of transparent plastic material for carrier contents visibility; and in which the closure means disc member is formed of metal.

3. The construction defined in claim 2 in which the closure means cap member is formed of plastic material to absorb shock loads in use of the carrier.

4. The construction defined in claim 1 in which the pivot pin means is releasably pivotally mounted on the carrier body wall.

5. The construction defined in claim 4 in which the pivot pin means has a head located in said cavity; and in which the head is fixed to said closure means disc member.

6. The construction defined in claim 1 in which the carrier body wall has an enlarged portion adjacent its open end; and in which said pivot pin means and said spring pin spaced therefrom are mounted in said carrier body enlarged ortion.

7. The construction defined in claim 1 m which t e spring means has a tensioning portion intermediate its ends imparting a togglelike action to the spring and closure means when the latter is moved between fully closed and fully opened positions thereby providing inherent bistable characteristics to the closure means. 

1. Closure construction for a pneumatic tube carrier including a generally tubular carrier body wall having two ends at least one of which is open; disclike closure means for said open end including a disc member and a cup-shaped cap member secured to said disc member and forming therewith a cavity; pivot pin means mounted on the carrier body wall projecting therefrom parallel to the axis of the carrier body at said open end and connected to said closure means providing for lateral pivotal movement of said closure means across the open end between fully closed and fully opened positions; preloaded spring means mounted in said cavity having one end connected to said closure means diametrically opposite the pivot means and having another end formed with a spring pin extending parallel to the axis of the carrier body; said disc member being formed with a slot arcuate on a center coinciding with the axis of said pivot means; and said Spring pin extending through said arcuate slot and being pivotally connected to the carrier body wall at a point spaced from said pivot means.
 2. The construction defined in claim 1 in which the carrier body is formed of transparent plastic material for carrier contents visibility; and in which the closure means disc member is formed of metal.
 3. The construction defined in claim 2 in which the closure means cap member is formed of plastic material to absorb shock loads in use of the carrier.
 4. The construction defined in claim 1 in which the pivot pin means is releasably pivotally mounted on the carrier body wall.
 5. The construction defined in claim 4 in which the pivot pin means has a head located in said cavity; and in which the head is fixed to said closure means disc member.
 6. The construction defined in claim 1 in which the carrier body wall has an enlarged portion adjacent its open end; and in which said pivot pin means and said spring pin spaced therefrom are mounted in said carrier body enlarged portion.
 7. The construction defined in claim 1 in which the spring means has a tensioning portion intermediate its ends imparting a togglelike action to the spring and closure means when the latter is moved between fully closed and fully opened positions thereby providing inherent bistable characteristics to the closure means. 